The Short Game

Just about all types of golfers will have over 50% of their shots from on or near the green. So why don’t most of us practice that way?

The Numbers GameOver the past year, we’ve seen how hitting greens is the best predictor for success on the PGA Tour and, ostensibly, in general. The problem is that most of us amateurs don’t have the luxury of being so accurate with our irons. So what are we to do?

Accept it. If you play a lot of golf and work on your game, it will get better. The great equalizer is a great short game. You will find numerous players that don’t hit it long and may not hit a lot of greens, but can get up and down from a bucket. This week in The Numbers Game, I’ll show you just how important the short game is and it may change your approach to how you practice.

Continue reading “The Short Game”

Wachovia Championship Preview

Tiger Woods will be missed this week but with 10 of the top 11 players in the world playing this weekend, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Wachovia ChampionshipWe’ve talked several times in the forum and in our Podcasts about whether or not one player choked or the other won but in last year’s Wachovia we definately saw Sergio choke. Holding a six stroke lead going into the final round, Jim Furyk who was paired with Sergio in the final round and ended up T-2 with Sergio, had this to say about Sergio:

“He’s lapping the field right now,” Furyk said. “The golf tournament is in his hands; he’s going to determine who the winner is. He goes out and shoots 70, you can hand him the trophy.”

Nevermind the 70, a 71 could have won but Sergio shot a 72 and eventually lost in a playoff to Vijay to finish T-2 with Jim Furyk.

Continue reading “Wachovia Championship Preview”

Early Ryder Cup Talk

The 36th Ryder Cup is still four months from now, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about it.

Thrash TalkMy wife and I are going through our second move in about seven months, so bear with me this week. I definitely don’t suggest buying two houses in the same year. We have learned our lesson, but we can’t pass on a good opportunity.

The month of April has come and gone, and the PGA Tour has made its way into May. I was looking at a couple golf websites this past week and realized The Ryder Cup is less than five months away. It’s never too early to start talking about the best event in golf. There is no other event in the sport that displays so much passion and winning desire. I’m not sure I can wait until September for the 36th playing of the Ryder Cup.

Continue reading “Early Ryder Cup Talk”

Before You Rip It, You’ve Got to Grip It

Grips are becoming as diverse and specialized as golf shafts. Do yourself a favor and scout out the grip that’s truly best for you and your game.

Bag DropThe golf grip industry has come a long way since the days of the venerable black and green rubber Victory grips that were standard issue on just about every club sold in America in the 70s and 80s. Whole new materials and technologies have emerged to deliver a dizzying array of choices for golfers. Now you can pick from colors, sizes, weights, and feel that suit your eye, your hands, and your touch. Here’s a look at some of the industry leaders, plus a couple of specialty makers, and their latest and most popular offerings…

Continue reading “Before You Rip It, You’ve Got to Grip It”

Volume Fifty-Seven

Useful gadgets that may or may no be very useful after all dominate this week’s edition of Hittin’ the Links.

Hittin' The LinksThis week’s edition of Hittin’ The Links is centered on gadgets. Regardless of whether these tools help you maintain your clubs, enjoy your round more, or help you swing better, they’re guaranteed to be useful for at least something…

Continue reading “Volume Fifty-Seven”

Nickent Pipe Putter Review

With two new blade-style models, is less more for Nickent’s Pipe putters?

Nickent Pipe AngleRiding the success of its 3DX hybrid line, Nickent Golf entered the short-game fray last year with the Pipe line of putters. These mallet putters featured a visually distinctive rounded white “pipe” section that served as an alignment aid and as a way to shift weight away from the putter’s face.

Let’s put it this way: if an Odyssey 2-Ball and a Futura Phantom got drunk and popped out a kid, the Pipe may be it.

Nickent has added two new models to the, uh, Pipe line this year. The Pipe PP004 and PP005 are both blade-style models that feature a modified version of the Pipe design. Is the Pipe hype or is it just your type? Read on to find out.

Continue reading “Nickent Pipe Putter Review”

Major Hangover

If history is any indicator, Phil’s chances at a three in a row are pretty slim. Only two before have done it and to make things worse only five golfers since 1978 have won a second major in the same year they won the Masters.

The Numbers GameCody talked about a Major Surpise… some of you think that Phil can seriously make a run at the Grand Slam. When one of the top players has their game peaking and seems to be on a roll, why not?

Well, not only do you have quite a few great golfers going after the same trophy but usually a peak has a sharp drop off as well. Only a few golfers in the history of the game have been able to keep their play at a high level after winning a major. With Phil, anything can happen, but the numbers don’t look like they are in his favor.

Continue reading “Major Hangover”

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview

Hurricane Katrina did it’s damage last year and now it’s time to see which player will stir his own storm to get a win at the 2006 Zurich Classic.

Zurich Classic of New OrleansLast year was the first year the Zurich Classic was held at the TPC Louisiana. Not long after Tim Petrovic won in an exciting playoff over James Driscoll did Hurricane Katrina come through the Gulf Coast region to cause extensive damage to the TPC. The PGA Tour has been in New Orleans since 1938 and is committed to New Orleans and the tournament so they weren’t about to let Katrina stop a tournament, so this year the Zurich Classic will be returning to the English Turn Golf and Country Club once again. Since the event was held there from 1989 to 2004 it will almost feel like a welcome home to the staff of English Turn and to many of the PGA Tour players.

Continue reading “Zurich Classic of New Orleans Preview”

Server Move

We’re back up and running on a brand new (and more powerful) server.

Site NewsWe’ve completed a switch to a new server. Everything, including our forum, seem to be working quite smoothly. If you see any problems, however, please report them to problems@thesandtrap.com. Thanks!

Now, back to the golf…